Just a quick heads up here. I currently catched the flu, so was not able to do a lot of normal days work but found the time for some office and computer work. Updated the boards, resent out eMail to the latest persons where the Pyra should be ready (as the last batch didn't result in a single order for some reason...)
So yeah, where are we?
True, Discord is currently where most of the things happen and where I mostly am and am replying to all inquiries as well.
Softwarewise the Pyra has moved along, as you might've seen from others here, so here's an update to building and shipping units.
Askarus already mentioned he built a couple of units and prepared most cases as well. And these units are currently lying around, as no one I sent the mail to last year in October placed an order even sent a reply.
It could be of lost interest, a different eMail address, the eMail didn't arrive them, etc.
I don't know. The problem is: This slows down things as well. As we would need to keep the units backed until we receive any kind of reply.
That's why I now resent the emails, also adding the notice to inform us if they're no longer interested in the Pyra.
So it's also important to check the
https://dragonbox.de/checkpyra Website in case you didn't receive an eMail - maybe you simply didn't receive it and your unit is ready, so this is a backup function.
It's always pretty random how many orders we still receive with each batch of eMails.
I guess at least 20 - 50% of the ones who preordered a Pyra don't complete the order. That also makes it almost impossible to tell how many are still in the queue.
Now, what's the status with the Pyra building itself?
Well, we were a bit depending on software as well. We had over 100 CPU boards that didn't boot because they reported a memory error - which wasn't true, but U-Boot reported that and refused to boot. After we finally received a new update we have only a couple of CPU boards (10 - 12) of the first batch, which is great.
We ordered PCBs for 550 Pyras with the first batch, so we still have a few to build and ship left.
What happens afterwards? Well, that's the question. We COULD simply continue to order the OMAP5 and build these units... but would that make sense?
hns and me were visiting the Electronica 2024 in Munich and checked out the new i.MX 9 series. Finally, they will have some SoCs again that don't need active cooling, so these would be interesting for use in the Pyra.
As my shop has grown quite a bit and made some money, I've got a good financial backing to be able to fund the redesign needed here.
Nothing is set in stone, and I'll surely need to contact all remaining preorderers as well to ask if they would be interested in that, but it's still a while until these new SoCs will be available anyways (and we still have units to build).
But it probably makes more sense compared to using the OMAP5 which still has some quirks no one could fix yet.
So, yeah, that's the current status. I've just sent a bunch of emails out today again, so check if you're included or use the CheckPyra page.
Otherwise, you can be sure I don't plan to abandon everyone. Everyone who asked for a refund yet has received one as well, we're not here to scam anyone but are of course thankful for everyone patiently waiting and supporting us as well
It has been anything but easy - and I can tell you that I definitely can feel that I'm getting older, I'm nowhere as productive as I was 15 years ago, where I could do everything at once with ease and work like I had multiple clones of me. Things are getting harder, but I will always stick to my word and won't run away